So I've been having all sorts of feelings with the end of the year, and I can't totally sort them all out. I felt guilty and weird for a long time after leaving Forest Lake in the middle of the year, but that had kind of faded and I had just been enjoying teaching in … Continue reading June 8: School’s Out
education
May 31: Graduation and This is America
Two things today. First, it was the last day for seniors at my new school. They made it, I made it. I learned so much from them this trimester and (at least they said) they learned more than they expected from me. Every one of my seniors passed my class, and they all earned it. … Continue reading May 31: Graduation and This is America
May 25: more gun violence in schools
Today a science teacher in an Indiana middle school averted a potential mass shooting situation when a 7th grader came back to class with two handguns. Apparently he nailed the kid in the head with a basketball, then tackled him. The teacher was shot three times, but appears to be in good condition. I haven't … Continue reading May 25: more gun violence in schools
May 23: Last Day of School
Today was the last day of school for Forest Lake. Tomorrow is graduation. We (they?) started school in early August to make room for construction, and today, they get to be done. I have watched the school news and town news through social media posts from friends still living and teaching there, and I know … Continue reading May 23: Last Day of School
May 8: Frustrated Student
Tonight was the last class of a Technology class I've been taking after school. I've learned a lot and it's definitely pushed me to try things I wouldn't otherwise have tried, but that have been effective. Tonight, though, it taught me a much more difficult lesson, or maybe I should say it reminded me of … Continue reading May 8: Frustrated Student
May 3: Tech 4 Teachers Class Make Up
I am taking a class called Tech 4 Teachers that meets once a week. I wanted to take it because I want to better use the 1:1 iPads at our school and I can use the credits for lanes. Well, one of the days was cancelled due to that April blizzard, so one of the … Continue reading May 3: Tech 4 Teachers Class Make Up
May 2: Great Things at School
Everyday is a rollercoaster as a teacher. Today, I'm focusing on the great. We started reading Romeo and Juliet today with my 9th graders. I had some kids who were totally scared of the language, but by the end of the first day, they wanted to read bigger parts. One boy opened the play and … Continue reading May 2: Great Things at School
April 25: We Need To Talk About Testing
I have been teaching for 18 years, most of which have had state- and federally-mandated "standardized" testing. I have been a parent for 13 years and I now have two kids who are taking the MN Comprehensive Assessments, or MCAs. Anders has taken these tests every year for five years. This was Annika's first year. … Continue reading April 25: We Need To Talk About Testing
April 24: Perfectionism
I don't think I'm a total perfectionist - I've seen way worse - but there are some things that I can't stand to leave uncorrected or unperfected. One of those things is design - I hate when fonts aren't quite right, or the edges don't quite line up correctly, or the space is uneven, or … Continue reading April 24: Perfectionism
April 20: 420
This might be the first 4/20 I didn't worry much about going to work. Columbine happened 19 years ago, just before I graduated with my B.A. I had just been accepted to start my Masters program in Education at the U of M that summer. For some, 420 is a day to celebrate weed; for … Continue reading April 20: 420
Adventures in Distraction 